I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
I was lucky enough to get out to see Eileen Ivers and her band, Immigrant Soul, yesterday (Sunday) in Ringwood, NJ. The show was actually at the public library and it was a surprisingly nice space and setting with GREAT sound. Anyway, I'd never seen Eileen play before and I have to say that I was totally "blown away."
1st I'll say that she is an incredible fiddler. She is ITM at her core but took a few twists and turns during the course of her show. At times the band supplied Afro and/or Cuban rhythms to her fiddling and it actually worked very well. I've heard people criticise her because of this but personally I can tell you that she and her band really pulled it off well and the crowd enjoyed it immensely. And, when she played straight out ITM it was easy to see why she won All Ireland nine times... her playing was intense on everything but when she played straight up ITM it was some of the most amazing fiddling of any type that I've ever witnessed. She also played mandolin on a few tunes and has chops going on there as well.
I'll also add that her band is made up of real pro's and it was plain to see by their collective interaction that Eileen has an excellent rapport with them. They all got there chance to do there own thing and there is definitely mutual support going on. They engaged the audience from the get go and Eileen has a very easy going and personable way about her... the audience loved her.
This was one of the best shows I've seen yet. I'd definitely recommend getting out to see Eileen given the chance.
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
Do you mean Pachelbel's Frolics? If legendary status is reached by rehashing well known classical pieces then we've all had it, look at frankie, great fiddler, yes, legend, no.
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
In what way is Ms. Ivers a legend?
For me, this is a very strong term to attach to a name, and I tend to associate it with people who have really made a major change in the world, or directly influenced millions of lives.
She had been a very successful competitor in All-Ireland, and played very very for Riverdance and with her her own band.
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
No matter how you look at it, Eileen is an incredible fiddler and she deserves to be where she is. She and her band put on an excellent show and were extremely well received and extremely well liked by the audience. As a musician I was genuinely inspired by Eileen's playing and that of her band members. I was also impressed with the fact that her band are not merely sidemen and there was a sense of unity up on the stage, great musicians and great show... hats off !
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
personally i think eileen ivers is sh*te. she is a horrible fiddle player (ie; scratching the crap out of it, dull relying on just power, there is certainly nothing 'musical' about her playing)and certainly not a legend. to be a legend you have to contribute something significant to the music, and in eileens case i dont think she has contributed anything. immigrant soul? come on. riverdance? they change their musicians all the time and they all sound the same. a legend is paddy fahey, tommy potts, michael coleman, patsy tuohey, lad o'beirne. they are legends. if you put ivers in with these then you are fools. winning the all-ireland doesn't make you a legend. even winning it a load of times. if that was the case there are kids in their mid to late teens who are all legends in the music. thats ridiculous.
even when she plays standard tunes she's not great. ive seen all the tv programs about music in ny and a lot of her when she was growing up. okay, she was good enough when she was young but how has she developed her playing since then? not much. i think many people here are judging her on her show which is wrong because that is an act, not a true reflection of her playing.if you are saying she is a legend because of a classical piece she plays, then okay listen to maxim vengerov, or yehudi menuhin then we'll see who the legend is. if its the irish stuff she plays, okay listen to another ny fiddle player lad o'beirne, or andy mcgann. if its the 'jazz' that she plays listen to stephane grapelli. she plays all of this music and is a master of none. a journeyman, or woman.
i doesnt matter to me if people want to listen to her by all means, but it id ridiculous if she is classed as a 'legend'.
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
If forgot to mention that she gets excellent tone.... she played two fiddles during the show one electrically and then mic'd. She got great tone either way and I was surprised anyone would sound as good as she did electrified via a contact pickup. Not scratchy or dull at all.
Another thing I'll mention is that she payed homage to Martin Mullvihill, Micheal Coleman, and Andy McGann. Eileen went on to explain the impact that Martin Mulvihill had on her musical life as he was her teacher and taught so many others in the NYC area as well.
If some want to call her sh!te they are entitled to their opinion however much I disagree. Another posted that they think she is a legend... agree with it or not they are entitled as well.
Hope everyone has a great day filled with great music of their choice!
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
Eileen is very talented, and fun to see perform. However, the music she now plays is more 'traditionally influenced' than it is traditional, she definitely 'colors outside the lines.' And that eclectic musical approach is not everyone's cup of tea.
I like her Pachabel's Frolics also, but that tune and her approach to it comes from outside the tradition.
So I see where the detractors are coming from, but good music is good music. Glad you enjoyed yourself, Raymond, from the sound of it, I would have enjoyed listening myself, her new group is very interesting, very skilled, very eclectic, and very entertaining!
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
Al Brown - I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Everything she plays has a traditional influence and it is obvious but she does "color outside the lines"(good way to put it). When she did play straight ITM though... it was intense. She is one of the best of them.
I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
I was lucky enough to get out to see Eileen Ivers and her band, Immigrant Soul, yesterday (Sunday) in Ringwood, NJ. The show was actually at the public library and it was a surprisingly nice space and setting with GREAT sound. Anyway, I'd never seen Eileen play before and I have to say that I was totally "blown away."
1st I'll say that she is an incredible fiddler. She is ITM at her core but took a few twists and turns during the course of her show. At times the band supplied Afro and/or Cuban rhythms to her fiddling and it actually worked very well. I've heard people criticise her because of this but personally I can tell you that she and her band really pulled it off well and the crowd enjoyed it immensely. And, when she played straight out ITM it was easy to see why she won All Ireland nine times... her playing was intense on everything but when she played straight up ITM it was some of the most amazing fiddling of any type that I've ever witnessed. She also played mandolin on a few tunes and has chops going on there as well.
I'll also add that her band is made up of real pro's and it was plain to see by their collective interaction that Eileen has an excellent rapport with them. They all got there chance to do there own thing and there is definitely mutual support going on. They engaged the audience from the get go and Eileen has a very easy going and personable way about her... the audience loved her.
This was one of the best shows I've seen yet. I'd definitely recommend getting out to see Eileen given the chance.
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by Raymond G
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
Yeah, she's great isn't she. Not my favourite, but great. The important lesson to learn from her is how easy it is.
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by ...
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
I seen Tir na nOg on Saturday and Andy Irvine on Sunday, both real legends of music.
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by strayaway
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
Eileen Ivers is a legend. She inspired me to start playing the fiddle. Her pacherbells cannon is genius
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by pamplemousse
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
Do you mean Pachelbel's Frolics? If legendary status is reached by rehashing well known classical pieces then we've all had it, look at frankie, great fiddler, yes, legend, no.
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by strayaway
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
In what way is Ms. Ivers a legend?
For me, this is a very strong term to attach to a name, and I tend to associate it with people who have really made a major change in the world, or directly influenced millions of lives.
She had been a very successful competitor in All-Ireland, and played very very for Riverdance and with her her own band.
But, LEGEND?
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by Piece
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
very very well
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by Piece
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
No matter how you look at it, Eileen is an incredible fiddler and she deserves to be where she is. She and her band put on an excellent show and were extremely well received and extremely well liked by the audience. As a musician I was genuinely inspired by Eileen's playing and that of her band members. I was also impressed with the fact that her band are not merely sidemen and there was a sense of unity up on the stage, great musicians and great show... hats off !
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by Raymond G
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
personally i think eileen ivers is sh*te. she is a horrible fiddle player (ie; scratching the crap out of it, dull relying on just power, there is certainly nothing 'musical' about her playing)and certainly not a legend. to be a legend you have to contribute something significant to the music, and in eileens case i dont think she has contributed anything. immigrant soul? come on. riverdance? they change their musicians all the time and they all sound the same. a legend is paddy fahey, tommy potts, michael coleman, patsy tuohey, lad o'beirne. they are legends. if you put ivers in with these then you are fools. winning the all-ireland doesn't make you a legend. even winning it a load of times. if that was the case there are kids in their mid to late teens who are all legends in the music. thats ridiculous.
even when she plays standard tunes she's not great. ive seen all the tv programs about music in ny and a lot of her when she was growing up. okay, she was good enough when she was young but how has she developed her playing since then? not much. i think many people here are judging her on her show which is wrong because that is an act, not a true reflection of her playing.if you are saying she is a legend because of a classical piece she plays, then okay listen to maxim vengerov, or yehudi menuhin then we'll see who the legend is. if its the irish stuff she plays, okay listen to another ny fiddle player lad o'beirne, or andy mcgann. if its the 'jazz' that she plays listen to stephane grapelli. she plays all of this music and is a master of none. a journeyman, or woman.
i doesnt matter to me if people want to listen to her by all means, but it id ridiculous if she is classed as a 'legend'.
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by fiddleruairi
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
If forgot to mention that she gets excellent tone.... she played two fiddles during the show one electrically and then mic'd. She got great tone either way and I was surprised anyone would sound as good as she did electrified via a contact pickup. Not scratchy or dull at all.
Another thing I'll mention is that she payed homage to Martin Mullvihill, Micheal Coleman, and Andy McGann. Eileen went on to explain the impact that Martin Mulvihill had on her musical life as he was her teacher and taught so many others in the NYC area as well.
If some want to call her sh!te they are entitled to their opinion however much I disagree. Another posted that they think she is a legend... agree with it or not they are entitled as well.
Hope everyone has a great day filled with great music of their choice!
# Posted on September 30th 2008 by Raymond G
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
fiddleruairi ~ you are so adorable!
# Posted on October 2nd 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
Eileen is very talented, and fun to see perform. However, the music she now plays is more 'traditionally influenced' than it is traditional, she definitely 'colors outside the lines.' And that eclectic musical approach is not everyone's cup of tea.
I like her Pachabel's Frolics also, but that tune and her approach to it comes from outside the tradition.
So I see where the detractors are coming from, but good music is good music. Glad you enjoyed yourself, Raymond, from the sound of it, I would have enjoyed listening myself, her new group is very interesting, very skilled, very eclectic, and very entertaining!
# Posted on October 2nd 2008 by AlBrown
Re: I saw Eileen Ivers play live in Ringwood, NJ yesterday.
Al Brown - I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Everything she plays has a traditional influence and it is obvious but she does "color outside the lines"(good way to put it). When she did play straight ITM though... it was intense. She is one of the best of them.
# Posted on October 2nd 2008 by Raymond G